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Seeger Weiss is pleased to announce a landmark $425 million settlement with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals in the Proton-Pump Inhibitor Products Liability Litigation. This significant achievement comes on behalf of thousands of consumers who suffered kidney injuries while using proton-pump inhibitor (“PPI”) medications.
Founding partner Chris Seeger serves as co-lead counsel with Stephanie O’Connor of Douglas & London P.C. and spearheaded negotiations with Justin Witkin of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz PLLC. Compensation for plaintiffs in the litigation now totals $533.5 million, including additional settlements with GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and Procter & Gamble.
“Today’s settlements are a significant victory for the thousands of patients who suffered kidney injuries as a result of using PPI medications,” said Seeger. “These settlements not only ensure victims receive just compensation for their pain and suffering, but also stand as a testament to the importance of holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for failing to warn patients and doctors about the health risks associated with their products.”
In the litigation, plaintiffs alleged that the regular use of PPI medications like Prevacid, Dexilant, Nexium, Prilosec, and Protonix could lead to kidney injuries, including interstitial nephritis, which may progress to chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. Plaintiffs further contended that defendants failed to conduct adequate research and concealed these risks.
The settlement resolves litigation against AstraZeneca for approximately 11,000 plaintiffs with claims in the MDL and various state court jurisdictions. Plaintiffs have yet to reach a settlement with Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the maker of PPI drugs Prevacid and Dexilant, and will continue to pursue claims against the company.
“We strongly urge Takeda to recognize the gravity of the harm caused by their PPI products and to come to the table in good faith as other manufacturers did after years of litigation,” Seeger added. “It is time for them to prioritize patient well-being over profits and take meaningful steps towards accepting accountability for those it harmed.”
One of the nation’s preeminent plaintiffs’ law firms, Seeger Weiss is best known for multidistrict mass torts and class actions in both state and federal court—and especially for taking those cases to trial. With the resources and dedication to take on the world’s largest corporations, the firm has an impressive track record of victories against companies like Merck, Monsanto, and 3M—and a reputation for sticking with a case from beginning to end. From offices in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, the firm has represented over 10,000 individuals, companies, and governments across the United States who have been injured or defrauded on a massive scale. Since its founding in 1999, it has led many of the most complex and high-profile cases in the country: the National Prescription Opiate Litigation, which the Washington Post called “the largest federal court case in U.S. history”; the ongoing “Dieselgate” scandal; the sprawling multistate litigation on behalf of survivors of child sexual abuse; and the history-making National Football League Players’ Concussion Injury Litigation.
Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future matter.